John r



(No Model.)

J. R. WONAGOTT.

FLOOD FENCE.

No. 459,162. Patented Sept. 8,1891.

INVENTOK LJLRYYONACOTT 6g hs ail-or 3 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN R. YVONACOTT, OF MOUNT ZION, ILLINOIS, ASSIGUOR OF ONE-HALF TO S. R. MAY,'OF SAME PLACE.

FLOOD-FENCE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 459,162, dated September 8, 1891.

Application filed May 2, 1891. Serial No. 391,327. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHN R. \VONAeoTT, of Mount Zion, in the county of Macon and State of Illinois, have invented certain new 5 and useful Improvements in Flood-Fences, of

which the following is a specification.

The object of this invention is to produce a flood-fence that will tilt in either direction and right itself automatically, that may be adjusted with relation to its points of suspension in such manner as to maintain the pickets in a vertical position under all normal conditions, that may be attached more or less closely to its points of support to meet T conditions that will be hereinafter specified, and in which the pickets or any of them may be adjusted in the beam to conform to the surface of the bed of the stream. These results are attained in the manner hereinafter set forth in detail, reference being had to the drawings accompanying and forming a part of this specification, in which Figure l is an elevation of a section of the fence as seen from a point below the same.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged end view of the section of fence. Fig. 3 is a plan of a section of the fence, and Fig. 4 is a separate representation of a clevis used to support the beam adjustably.

The beam is composed of two strips, which are secured together by bolts 14, and which clamp between them the pickets 3 and intervening blocks 2. The truss-rod 12 is secured at its ends to the beam on the downstream side thereof, and it extends through the eye of the threaded and centrally-located bolt 1 Nut 13 on bolt 13 bears against a washer in contact with the beam, and is used to force the eye away from the beam, thus tightening the truss-rod and strengthening the beam against the downward flow of the water. The posts 4 are placed one on each side of each end of the beam and extend into the ground to a depth sufficient to firmly sustain the fence. Caps 5 are secured to the tops of the posts by stirrups 6, which extend over the caps and are secured to the posts by bolts 6.

A strap 7 extends downward from the longitudinal center of each side of each cap, and the straps of each cap are secured to such cap by means of a bolt 8. The lower ends of the straps extend some little distance below the lower edge of the caps, and are secured by means of bolt 9 to one of the several holes of clevis 10, which is attached by means of bolt ll to an end of the beam.

In constructing the fence the clevis 10 is connected higher or lower on the beam, according as the beam is heavier or lighter, the object being to leave suflicient weight below the tilting bearing to cause the fence to right itself promptly and to yield readily to logs, &c., passing either above or below the beam. The truss-rod adds to the weight of one side of the beam, thus tending to throw the pickets out of perpendicular, and the effect is increased or lessened, according as the trussrod is pressed more or less distant from the beam. To meet this tendency and to enable the pickets to be made to swing true under 7 all circumstances is the function of the clevis with its set of holes, the point of connection being made toward the heavy side of the beam, as indicated in the drawings. The blocks 2 are of the same material as pickets 3, and the pickets are held between the bars of the beam by friction only. \Vhen the fence is built, the pickets are adjusted to conform to the surface of the ground, as shown in the drawings, and may be changed at any time to correspond to a change of the surface by driving them either down or up. The clevis permits the pickets to be inclined downstream during freezing weather, in order to permit ice to pass over without break- 8 5 ing the pickets, and the adjustment is effected by connecting strap 7 with the hole of the clevis farthest upstream.

I claiml. In a flood-fence, the combination of the 0 posts and connections, the straps '7, secured to the connections of the posts, the beam carrying pickets, the clevises 10, secured to the ends of the beam and having the sets of holes,

and bolts 9, adapted to connect the clevis caps, and bolts 9, connecting the straps with with the straps, as set forth. the clevises, as set forth. IO

2. In a flood-fence, the combination of the In testimony whereof I sign my name in the beam having on one side the truss-rod 12 and presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

5 the customary pickets, the clevises 10, secured JOHN R. VONACOTT.

to the ends of the beam and having the sets \Vitnesses: of holes, the posts 4, having caps 5, secured I. D. \VALKER,

thereto by stirrups 6, straps 7, secured to the L. P. GRAHAM. 

